I am the same way when I do use scents. Trails end for the pre-rut switching to doe in estrous when the rut is swinging. The reason I dont use scents in early season is because deer are more patternable. Here in NY they are still in that late summer feeding pattern. With proper scouting you can really put yourself in a sweet spot as long as mother nature doesnt throw that weather curve ball. Once we get that first good frost all bets are off. My hunting pattern - early season, food sources - mid season (rutting phases), travel corridors - late season, food sources again. But mid and late seasons scents seem to be affective IMO.

I have and some other guys around have been seeing bucks sparring.....so the first week I'll put buck urine and or the billy goats scent near my decoy...I'll put the smaller rack on it at first to see whats around

Does that work well for ya msbadger? Doesnt sound like a bad idea.. I havent used any during the early season. I guess I get a little "scared" to use them. I do however use the Black Widdow Doe Pee come Nov. Ive had pretty good luck with it.. I know some of you may not be fermilure with it, so heres a link to their site if anyone wanted to check it out..http://www.blackwidowdeerlures.com/

It's VERY strong stuff, Ill tell ya that haha

"If I pull the hammer and shoot this young buck, he's dead. But if I pass on him, the next hunter might not shoot so straight."

This is the first year that I'll be using early season scents. I will be using tinks doe urine not any kind of estrous or anything. I was told that it should make them less nervous, supposedly it will make them more comfortable. Once Nov. gets here I'll use tinks 69 doe in estrous, trying to attract them.

I use frsh earth scent waffers all year as a cover scent, just pin them to my pants. For an early season attractant the best luck I have had is pure vanilla. I have had deer smell it then ignore it, does and fawns fight over it to eat it and had bucks rub on it. While its no sure thing I have also never had a deer go on alert from it.

Of course this is hard. It's supposed to be hard, thats what makes it great. If it was easy everyone would do it!